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Welcome to the tenth Vrbish newsletter, where we distill all the news, updates, and stories from the Vrbs Community!
In this week's issue we'll cover:
Impact Mint Page goes Live
Vrbish Superhero Descends on Japan
Artist Spotlight with Dakimici
The Impact Mint Page pieces together the fragments that are independent creators and artists. Vrbs has taken positive steps to support creators through the Grants Program, but up until now, distribution of the resulting artworks has been difficult.
This problem is solved by unifying these creations into one coherent feed, Vrbs Impact.
It's a simple update, but it is incredibly important. To truly amplify Vrbs, loyal community members need a central point to view Vrbs related content. For me personally, the fragmentation made it difficult to keep track of new art releases. I had to manually search what the Vrbs account was reposting, and for Vrbs Artists who's work I've enjoyed.
And making this even easier to setup, the Vrbs protocol team (Woj and Rocketman) have updated the UI. They've done a great job putting the user experience first, making it an intuitive process!
Hamachan, a newcomer to the Vrbs Artist Residency Program, has a mission to communicate the wonders of Japan and preserve its traditions and culture, which are disappearing rapidly due to population decline.
And he* is accomplishing this by visiting Japan's underrated wonders disguised as the Vrbish-Diaper-Man.
Who is Vrbish-Diaper-Man?
Educating the world and raising interest in Japanese culture through his ridiculous and entertaining persona. I'd say he must be a hero.
[Curtis] Can you tell us more about yourself?
[Dakimici] Hey, my real name is Muhammad Hakimi and in the web3 world, I'm known as Dakimici! I'm a solo pixel artist from Malaysia. I started exploring crypto and NFTs around the end of 2020, if I remember correctly. I have an art background and have loved drawing since I was a kid. I'm not a full-time artist. I do this as a hobby and to earn some extra money for my needs. I am an introverted person also, maybe that’s why I work solo.
[Curtis] How did transform art into a passion for you?
[Dakimici] Art has always been a big part of my life. Since I was a kid, I loved drawing and creating things. It was a way for me to express myself and bring my imagination to life. Even though I didn't plan to become a full-time artist, art has always been more than just a hobby for me. It's something that I turn to when I need to relax or feel inspired.
When I started sharing my work online, I realized that others connected with my art too. That encouraged me to keep going, and it slowly became a bigger part of my life. Art became special to me because it allowed me to connect with people and express my thoughts and feelings in a way that words sometimes can’t.
[Curtis] Why pixel art? Did you experiment with other styles before dedicating yourself to it?
[Dakimici] I love this question! I still remember the main reason I started making NFTs was because of a project called CryptoPunks. At that time, I was thinking, “How can simple pixel art like this sell for millions?” With zero experience in pixel art, I began studying and researching how to create it. I tried to copy their style, and this is the result of my 1st batch pixel art NFT. It wasn’t very good, to be honest.
After that piece, I felt like pixel art wasn’t for me, so I started exploring other styles like 2D, 3D, abstract, geometric, and photomanipulation.
Here’s the funny part, the reason I ended up sticking with pixel art is that my tablet broke. All I had was a mouse and keyboard, but I still wanted to make art. So I thought, “Why not try pixel art again? It doesn’t really require a drawing pad—just some tapping with the mouse while I wait for my new tablet”. Then I found pixel art is easier than making 2D art, and it was also simpler to animate. By the time my new drawing pad arrived, I was so comfortable with using a mouse that I didn’t even switch back. To this day, I still create all my pixel art with just a mouse and keyboard.
[Curtis] Recently you've been tapping into cultural moments such as memes from the Olympics, or the assassination attempt on a former-President. Tell me more about your process and why you decided to create around these moments.
[Dakimici] Hahahah, this one's easy…because it's all about staying “TRENDING”. People love what's hot and current, and as artists, we need to jump on those trends to stay relevant. It's a golden opportunity to connect with a wider audience and keep our work fresh.
[Curtis] What's one question you wish more people would ask you?
[Dakimici] I wish people would ask what motivates me to keep creating, even when things get tough. To be honest, sometimes I feel less motivated when my art doesn't get much engagement or doesn't sell. When that happens, I take a short break and then focus on improving for next time.
[Curtis] What has been the most unexpected part about being an artist?
[Dakimici] Realizing how much my work connects with others. I never thought I'd be able to sell my own artwork, and I'm really grateful that so many people enjoy my simple creations.
I'm always learning and trying to get better, so I'm excited to see where this journey takes me!
Thank you for reading!
Vrbish has one mission: To amplify Vrbs and the creators that support it.
Please share this with a friend and help us share these stories. We could all use some more good in the world.
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